Wrapping or packaging machine



July 10. 1956 w. T. BURBANK 2,753,672

WRAPPING OR PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 15, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY July 10. 1956 W.T. BURBANK 2,753,672

WRAPPING OR PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' IN V EN TOR.

WM 5M? ATTORNE )4 July 10, 1956 w. T. BURBANK 2,753,672

WRAPPING OR PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z7 ZZ Z4 SA FR INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEX WRAPPING R PACKAGING MACHINE Original application January 13, 1949, Serial No. 70,652. Divided and this application August 27, 1952, Serial No. 306,552

Claims. (CI. 53-88) This invention relates to improvements in wrapping or packaging machine.

The machine is designed for wrapping or packaging objects or assembled groups or units. The present invention is a division of my application for Letters Patent filed January 13, 1949, Serial No. 70,652 for Machines for Packaging Stacked Hollow Ware Such as Nested Paper Cups or the Like, now Patent #2,641,095 dated June 9, 1953.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a wrapping or packaging machine which is of large capacity which permits the use of webs or strips of heat scalable material and eliminates or minimizes the handling of the objects wrapped.

Second, to provide a machine having these advantages which is automatic in its operation.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A machine which embodies the features of this invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of portions of the machine embodying the invention showing the complementary sections thereof, the division line being indicated by the line AA.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section showing details of the crimping, sealing and severing means for the wrapper, fragments of which are illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with feeding grippers shown in actuated or gripping position by full lines and in retracted position by dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 2 with the crimping, sealing and severing mechanism in retracted position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 66 of Fig. 7 with the crimping, sealing and severing mechanism in actuated position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view mainly in section on a line corresponding to line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing is especially designed for the wrapping of stacks or assemblies of nested paper cups. It should be understood, however, that the machine is readily adapted for the wrapping of other forms of nested hollow ware or objects. This divisional application relates particularly to the crimping, heat sealing and severing of the wrapper after it is wrapped around the objects into individual packages, and only such parts of the machine are illustrated as are particularly related to that feature and deemed necessary for the understanding thereof.

Parts of the frame structure are designated by the numeral 1. These are not described as they form no part nited States Patent 0 i 2,753,672 Patented July 10, 1956 ice of the present invention. 2 represents an assembly of nested cups, and 3 represents a heat scalable wrapping material, desirably transparent. This web of wrapping material is wrapped around the objects to be wrapped in tubular form with the edges overlapping as shown at 3 in Fig. 2. The groups of cups or other objects wrapped are delivered to the web of wrapping material in spaced relation and the wrapping material is wrapped therearound with the edges overlapping as indicated in Fig. l. 4 represents a heat sealing plate for heat sealing the overlapped longitudinal edges. The electrical connections and details of this heat sealing plate are not illustrated.

The rollers 5 (Fig. 1) are arranged to guide the edges of the wrapper into overlapping relation. The troughlike support 6 is provided to support the wrapper and the articles wrapped as they pass under the side or longitudinal sealing plate 4. Spaced rearwardly from the wrapping way or support 6 is a delivery way 7, also of upwardly facing channel. Opposite the delivery way 7 is a curved friction plate 8, the members 7 and 8 coacting to frictionally hold the wrapped units delivered thereto from the wrapping mechanism.

While wrapped around the wrapped objects or assemblies in spaced relation, the wrapper is advanced with a step by step movement or feed including the transfer grippers designated generally by the numeral 9, that is, these grippers 9 transfer the wrapped articles from the wrapping mechanism and side sealing mechanism to the delivery mechanism or receiving mechanism. The grippers 9 are provided with a plurality of curved longitudinally spaced fingers 10 which are spaced in the embodiment illustrated to engage the wrapped stack of cups between the rims thereof. They are shown in their engaged position in Fig. 1 in associated relation to the side sealer 4. The fully actuated position of the grippers 9 is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which position a wrapped assembly has been delivered to the parts 7 and 8 which are provided with flanges 11 and 12, respectively, the bolts 13 having springs 14 thereon for yieldingly urging the members 7 and 8 toward each other. The adjustable stop 15 limits the inward movement of these parts.

The grippers 9 are carried by the rocker arms 16 mounted on the reciprocatingly mounted rockshafts 17, the rockshafts being actuated in proper timed relation by a pneumatic device designated by the numeral 18, the details of which are not illustrated. A flexible conduit is indicated at 19.

Between the conveyor or guide ways 6 and 7 the portions of the wrapper between the spaced objects about which the wrapper is wrapped is crimped, sealed and severed. This crimping, sealing and severing means or assembly comprises two units which are designated generally by the numerals 20 and 21, which include the crossheads 22 carried by the guide rods 23 slidable through the supports 24. The crossheads are actuated by the plungers 25 disposed in coacting cylinders 26, the plunger rods 27 being connected to the crossheads.

Each of these units comprises a pair of spaced crimping plates 28, the spacing being such that one pair may telescope slightly within the other as shown in Fig. 6. These units are simultaneously actuated by hydraulic means, the fluid connection being indicated at 29. The crimper members 28 are provided with V-shaped recesses 30 in their forward edges or faces terminating in the semicircular notches 31.

Each unit comprises a heat sealing element, the element 32 of one unit being provided with spaced V-shaped ribs 33, while the element 34 of the other unit is provided with V-shaped recesses 35 which are aligned with or register with the ribs 33. The heating element 32 is provided with a blade 36 while the element 34 is provided with a slot-like recess 37 receiving the blade when the parts are in fully actuated position as shown in Fig. 6. The provision of the heating elements with the ribs and recesses as described insures the effective sealing of the wrapper at two longitudinally spaced points or zones, the cutter severing the wrapper between these sealed zones. The heating units 3?; are provided with suitable ciectrical connections 39.

This crimping, sealing and severing means is operated in timed relation to the step by step feed means; the connections for obtaining this result are not illustrated as they form no part of the present invention. It is desired to point out, however, that after the machine has been operated to position one wrapped object or assembly of objects as shown at the left of Pig. 2 and another stack is proceeding within the delivery way, the crimping, sealing and severing units are operated and the portions of the wrapper between the adjacent objects are gathered or crimped, sealed and severed. The sealing units are then retracted and the transfer grippers actuated to transfer the wrapped object on the sealing way into thrust translating engagement with a preceding wrapped object on the delivery conveyor. When the objects wrapped are hollow ware as illustrated this results in tucking the sealed end of the wrapper into the top receptacle of the rear assembly or object on the receiving conveyor as illustrated in Fig. 1. The wrapped articles are advanced from the receiving conveyor or delivery conveyor to a trough which in the embodiment illustrated comprises the rods 4i and 41. With this arrangement of parts the continuous web of wrapping material which has been wrapped around the assemblies or objects to be wrapped is sealed and severed between the objects to provide individually wrapped packages.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments and adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to practice my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a machine of the class described including means for endwise translating with a step by step movement an elongated wrapper of heat scalable material wrapped in tubular form around spaced objects with its longitudinal edges in overlapping relation, of means for crimping, sealing and severing the tubular wrapper between the spaced objects therein comprising longitudinally spaced coacting pairs of crimping plates having V-shaped recesses in their front edges disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of the wrapper and movable transversely thereof into overlapping relation when in actuated position, a pair of opposed heating elements positioned between said pairs of crimping plates and movable therewith into engagement with the crimped portion of the wrapper between the pairs of crimping plates, said heating elements having their opposed faces aligned with the apex of V-shaped crimping plates with which they are associated whereby the wrapper material is collapsed into a compressed mass before being contacted by the heating elements, one of said heating elements being provided with V-shaped ribs spaced relative to the path of travel of the wrapper and the other of said heating elements being provided with corresponding V-shaped recesses, one of said heating elements being provided with a blade disposed between the ribs and recesses and the other with a recess receiving the blade whereby the tubular wrapper is crimped and heat sealed at points spaced longitudinally thereof and severed between such spaced points, and means for actuating said crimping, sealing and severing means in timed relation to the wrapper feed means and to act upon the portion of the wrapper between objects wrapped therein.

2. The. combination in a machine of the class described including means for endwise translating with a step by step movement an elongated wrapper of heat sealable material wrapped in tubular form around spaced objects with its longitudinal edges in overlapping relation, of means for crimping, sealing and severing the tubular wrapper between the spaced objects therein comprising longitudinally spaced coacting pairs of crimping members disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of the wrapper and movable transversely thereof into coacting cngagement with the tubular wrapper, a pair of opposed heating elements positioned between said pairs of crimping plates and movable therewith into engagement with the crimped portion of the wrapper between the pairs of crimping members, said heating elements having their opposed faces aligned with the apex of V-shaped crimping plates with which they are associated whereby the wrapper material is collapsed into a compressed mass before being contacted by the heating elements, one of said heating elements being provided with ribs spaced relative to the path of travel of the wrapper and the other of said heating elements being provided with corresponding recesses, one of said heating elements being provided with a blade disposed between the ribs and recesses and the other with a recess receiving the blade whereby the tubular wrapper is crimped and heat sealed at points spaced longitudinally thereof and severed between such spaced points, and means for actuating said crimping, sealing and severing means in timed relation to the wrapper feed means and to act upon the portion of the wrapper between objects wrapped therein.

3. The combination in a machine of the class described including means for endwise translating with a step by step movement an elongated wrapper of heat scalable material wrapped in tubular form around spaced objects, of means for crimping, sealing and severing the tubular wrapper between the spaced objects therein comprising longitudinally spaced coacting pairs of crimping plates having V-shaped recesses in their front edges disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of the wrapper and movable transversely thereof into overlapping relation when in actuated position, a pair of opposed heating elements positioned between said pairs of crimping plates and movable therewith into engagement with the crimped portion of the wrapper between the pairs of crimping plates, said heating elements having their opposed faces aligned with the apex of V-shaped crimping plates with which they are associated whereby the wrapper material is collapsed into a compressed mass before being contacted by the heating elements, one of said heating elements being provided with ribs spaced relative to the path of travel of the wrapper and the other of said heating elements being provided with corresponding recesses, one of said heating elements being provided with a blade disposed between the ribs and recesses and the other with a recess receiving the blade whereby the tubular wrapper is crimped and heat sealed at points spaced longitudinally thereof and severed between such spaced points, the v in the said crimping plates being located with their apexes adjacent the axial center of the tubular wrapper in the actuated positions of the plates, and means for actuating said crimping, sealing and severing means in timed relation to the wrapper feed means and to act upon the portion of the wrapper between the objects wrapped therein.

4. The combination in a machine of the class described including means for endwise translating with a step by step movement an elongated wrapper of heat scalable material wrapped in tubular form around spaced objects, of means for crimping, sealing and severing the tubular wrapper between the spaced objects therein comprising longitudinally spaced coacting pairs of crimping plates having V-shaped recesses in their front edges disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of the wrapper and movable transversely thereof into overlapping relation when in actuated position, a pair of opposed heating arsaerz elements positioned between said pairs of crimping plates and movable therewith into engagement with the crimped portion of the wrapper between the pairs of crimping plates, said heating elements having their opposed faces aligned with the apex of V-shaped crimping plates with which they are associated whereby the wrapper material is collapsed into a compressed mass before being contacted by the heating elements, one of said heating elements being provided with a blade acting to sever the wrapper intermediate sealed portions thereof, the V in the said crimping plates being located with their apexes adjacent the axial center of the tubular wrapper in the actuated positions of the plates, and means for actuating said crimping, sealing and severing means in timed relation to the wrapper feed means and to act upon the portion of the wrapper between the objects wrapped therein.

5. The combination in a machine of the class described including means for endwise translating with a step by step movement an elongated wrapper wrapped in tubular form around spaced objects with its longitudinal edges in overlapping relation, means for securing and severing the tubular wrapper between the spaced objects therein comprising longitudinally spaced coacting pairs of crimping plates having V-shaped recesses in their front edges disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of the Wrapper and movable transversely thereof into overlapping relation when in actuating position, opposed pairs of heating elements disposed between said pairs of crimping plates, means supporting said heating elements with their opposed faces at all times transversely outwardly from the converging portions of said crimping plates located inwardly of the apexes of the recesses therein whereby the wrapper material is collapsed into a compressed mass before being contacted by the heating elements, one of said heating elements being provided with V-shaped ribs spaced relative to the path of travel of the wrapper and the other with corresponding V-shaped recesses, one of said heating elements being provided with a blade disposed between its ribs and the other with a recess receiving the blade when the heating elements are closed whereby the tubular wrapper is secured and severed between such spaced points, and means for actuating said securing and severing means in timed relation to the wrapper feed means to act upon the portion of the wrapper between objects wrapped therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,823 Tripp Sept. 17, 1901 1,986,422 Zwoyer Jan. 1, 1935 2,175,031 Salfisberg Oct. 3, 1939 2,200,971 Sonneborn May 14, 1940 2,265,253 Smith Dec. 9, 1941 2,347,439 Shea Apr. 25, 1944 2,467,879 Billeb Apr. 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 80,931 Sweden July 10, 1934 

